Personally, it's a pretty much peak wagon, my father also had a green 850 T5, as a company car. After the obligatory 245 GLT, and a 740 GLT I vividly remember him querying 'what the hell' the R meant when he got 'blasted' by one on the Motorway, I had to explain what it was 😁😁
Only a true petrol head especially around in the 90s will know straight away what car it is just from the title. You could've just said 5 cylinder from the 90s and we would've known. An absolute icon which every copper wanted to drive
My dad still uses his green 850 T5R estate every day. About 380.000 km. He bought it brand new and never wants another car. These engines are so good. A true Volvo man, owned a 240, 740 and 960 before this. Mum drives a V50 R estate bought second hand.
Loved hearing how the guy and his dad bonded over them and how it still sticks with him to today. People who aren't true gear heads will never understand how much a car can mean and be to someone. Mine is part of my soul,I truly have a love and appreciation for her. It's a lifetime of love and what u enjoy. Cars it's what I read,watch docs and movies on, spend so much time thinking,dreaming , building, driving. It's a life
As a dad with young boys, I'm hoping I rekindle my car hobby at some point in the not too distant future and get them into it. They're already well interested in cars ... I just don't have the money to buy something fun to completely sucker them in with but I intend to work on it.
Seems they were universally loved by coppers - certainly a comfy seat for the long days on the road and some power to chase people that thing they can get away! I had a white ex police T5 at one point... but it got nicked ironically! it was surprisingly good for its mileage though - I think it was well over 300,000 by the time I got hold of it!
There weren't to many cars, back then, which could get away from aT5, apart from a Certain Lotus Carlton, and was Respected in the Car Community. Were T5 Police Cars Standard? There was the Rumour Mill that they were Tuned?
I had a red saloon, same black interior as this one but mine was a manual, N149 MFR. I'd bought and sold some nice BMWs before and after owning the Volvo and not one of them put a smile on my face as much as the Volvo, the brakes were rubbish and I warped plenty of front discs, the traction control was very rudimentary, the instrument switches were clunky not like the modern micro switches or touchscreen jobbies we have now but there was just something about the car that made all of that irrelevant, alas I sold it for a house deposit, sold it to a friend who kept it nice for a few years and sold it, I never saw it again till maybe 5 years later he turned up at my house in my old Volvo, the chap he sold it to sold it back to him and he came to show me, sadly its gone again, jeez I'd buy that car back in a flash if I knew were it was
Back in the 90s I was the proud owner of 1 of 200 Olive Green T5-R homologation estates. I had been working in London making my way back to the M4 and I was stuck at traffic lights opposite the Volvo garage in Twickenham. It was in the showroom, I rang the salesman the next day and he drove it out to Chippenham on a Saturday. I bought it after a short test drive. Nxx OAM. I then bought an orange V70R then an orange C70R. #goodolddays
OMG! Just the sort of barn find I was waiting for. I absolutely love these wagons. I own a 95' GLT non turbo with 580K miles. Runs great and everything works. Seats are the most comfortable of any car I've ever owned.
I own a C70 Coupé MK1 in Saffron Orange that's also in desperate need of attention and watching this video has properly spurred me on to get the rest of the parts it needs so I can enjoy it again!!!
Drove one as a traffic officer in the 90s; the best work car I ever drove, guaranteed by Volvo to reach 150mph no matter the miles. Fabulous cars, and when I moved to Canada I bought an 850 turbo estate which I passed on to my son (which he then killed through lack of maintenance). Upon my return to the UK next year, may well find myself another old estate.
850 T5R, 944, old land rover? Lovely lineup of cars! I really love these volvos (I daily a '98 V70) so this video was a proper treat. Thanks to all involved! Edit: and some more nice cars later!
That brings back wonderful memories,in the late nineties I worked for a Volvo dealership and was always captivated by the sound of the five cylinder, and I loved the fact that the police station was opposite, super convenient for them when maintenance etc was needed. Than you and John for a wonderful video.
I remember seeing that car in Dover quite a bit when I was younger my jaw would drop every time I sore it. I did used to hate the colour but it definitely has won me over after awhile.
@MattTester It's a common dodge to use toothpaste for polishing plastics, and smokers toothpaste is more abrasive than most. The smokers powder is even more so.
I used to work in a Volvo Dealership in Glasgow in the 90's and the Police brought their Volvo 850 T5's in for service and repairs. I used to also deliver them to the parts of the UK as well while legally 😉 driving these very very fast machines 🔥
Agree with the sound of the 5 cylinder engines being awesome. I had a 2007 Focus ST (XR5T here in Oz), it was a great car and the sound of that engine was fantastic.
I was rear-ended by a minivan while waiting at a stop light years ago and my '04 V70R gave its life so that I could walk away unscathed. Great car and only 3 years old at the time...an infant! Fast forward 16 years and my son's XC60 did similar duty. Car was destroyed so that he wasn't. Volvo do have their fair share of niggles, but, overall, I'm still a fan. Thanks for this one. Hope he gives the old girl the restoration she's due.
Excellent barn find Jonny. I've got a '98 V70 T5 that I daily. It's flawed in many ways as a daily driver, it drinks fuel, eats suspension components, and has the usual old car niggles. But for me it's the definitive estate car, and it's still buckets of fun.
I currently have a Manual Gull yellow T5R factory manual one of only 3 left in the country, I also own The V70 RAWD and S60 R AWD Manual, my everyday runaround is a V70 T5, they are my babies and all in mint condition. As you say most were Autos, our company was Carpenters Autos Limited in Hampton Court, established in 1934, we started specialising in Volvo in 1981, so I have grown up with the brand, from 121’s right up to the latest XC’s.
Now thats a selection of Swedish Steel right there! The V70R AWD my dad had after the 850 and a few V70 T5s was an absolute monster! My dad let me borrow it a few times and wow it was fun :)
@@automotivetales we bought about 4 cars from carpenters, the last 850 bought brand new, the yellow was in the colours but we thought it looked like a slab of butter, proper work horses
In couple of hours I will be taking my daughter and her friends to soccer practice in this exact car. It was a German allocation then ended up in Japan a finally imported to Canada 5 years ago. I also fell in love with this car because of BTCC. Can't believe I own it. I converted it to manual. Totally different animal.
These are the kind of stories that make this a great channel! I had one of these in Dark Olive Pearl. Later style 16t turbo and white injectors retrofitted plus a remap and an 850R clutch plate. That thing was absolutely on fire. Still miss it. Incidentally, I also had a 944 at the same time.
Love the car ethos, wasn't expecting the Clio 172 though! Everyone with a car collection worth knowing about seems to have a quick mk2 Clio of some kind.
This one of the best videos you have done, one on the 90’s icons. Really nice guy who owns it. The barn/garage setup is a dream. Thanks Jonny for another great content video.
Such an iconic car for me, so many varied reasons, my Dad brought a T5 saloon back home in 1994 when he was on Traffic, i stood at Silverstone watching, and wanted one! Mates all wanted Golfs and Fiestas etc when we were 17/18, i wanted an 850R, owned ours for over 16 years now, and still gives me goosebumps every-time i drive it or just look at it! We are lucky enough to be showing it this year at at the NEC at at Classic Motorshow on the Volvo Owners Club stand, what a great video as usual.
American here. Love the channel seeing cool cars we never lucky to get. These super cool. Anyone who take a wagon racing I respect. Volvos are cool never had one but always liked them
Great episode! I commented on your 106 Rallye episode that it isn't great getting these barnfinds very wet when they can't drive and they're perfectly dry-stored but in this case you did this car a huge favor with the dry-ice blasting and a proper wash. Very enjoyable watch, thanks!
I used to own standard older Volvo estates to tow my race cars many, far to many years ago, but I always would have loved to own a Yellow In your face T5r auto being disabled. OK I am now 76 but that spark of a fast safe car has never left me. Loved this video even If It has opened the door again saying to myself - I want one. lol. Thank you both.
A wealthy friend\business associate of my dad's had a 850 T5R. We borrowed it one winter for a family trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations. We did that trip rather quickly and as it was such a smooth ride, my old dear never quite realised how quick my dad was going. Always loved them after that and their touring car stint. :)
Great video and I've also subscribed to Jon's channel as well. Thank you for the introduction. Why oh why have car companies given up on estate cars especially as we transition in to EV's, I would love an estate or an MPV again, they are just so much more practical than the current crop of SUV/Cross-over things. Thanks Jonny for your hard work, this one was so enjoyable to watch and then to watch Jon's behind the scenes video too.
Incredible find, great to see it start up easily and clean up so well. My first car was an 850, and I've continuously had 850s in my life ever since - until this summer, as I let my 2.0 Turbo manual wagon go to favour focus on my 740 Turbo Intercooler. I know I'm going to miss it though, the atmosphere of the cockpit and the sound of that 5 cylinder is second to none in the world of non-sportscars to my eye. I've kept my wood-rim wheel at least, should the lust and opportunity arise in the future. 😆 And great fun to see you lads froth over these things - being Scandinavian I always felt the FWD-era and onward Volvos always had an underrated, boring rep outside of its home region (to people out of the know, anyway), so it's heartwarming to see and hear the appreciation that's actually out there.
Got driven in a couple of them but never drove myself. Always lusted after one. Coolest estate car ever in my opinion. Thanks Jonathan top work as always.
They always tend to tick for a while after not running for a long time. My daughter has a Turbo 850 estate and I have a black T5r estate in my shop waiting next to its donor car for a new engine. This video gives me some motivation .. can't wait to drive it again. T5rs are rarely seen in the US.
I've been told that the ticking, while often mistaken for tappets, is more often just noisy injectors. Can't speak to the truth on that, but it's come from Volvo whiteblock experts.
fantastic video boys. man i felt like i was just hanging out doing guy stuff., half hour later im sad it ended. keep the volvo going! i love my volvo wagon and will never let it go. 06 ocean race xc70
I hadn't realised who this was until I saw that E30 and the reg. I remember seeing some content on that previously. You have quite the collection there sir. Thank you for sharing the re-awakening on this lovely car. Look after that old girl.
Thoroughly pleased the owner recognized the error of his ways and made space in the garage for this iconic Volvo. Thanks for highlighting this one, Jonny !!!
Cars like these really bring families together and this Gul T5-R is no exception. A dream car for me, hopefully this will be restored to it's absolute best. It's made my Sunday noght watching this 🙂
I've always been a perv for sporty estates. I had an Alfa 33 Sportwagons, an Cooper S clubman and have just bought an x-type Sovereign estate. We used to machine the cranks for the Btcc Volvos where I used to work. We used to get free tickets and my first sight of the Volvo estate was it powering out of the pit lane at Donington. I had a 155 Alfa at the time.
You should take a trip to see us in Sweden Johnny and dig out a few old Volvos and Saabs. Was recently buying a second hand Saab and noticed that there are loads of Volvos and Saabs that have done 300, 400 and 500k KM and still running fine.
What a cool car this is. Knew all about them back in the 90’s but never really gave them much attention, but watching this has made me give them the respect they deserve. Really is such a cracking looking wagon 😎
The taping is a hydraulic tap-it when the oil gets there it’s sorted, the walnut steering wheel is not a T5R option, they were leather and suede as standard. To match the seats.
A white 850 estate was always a scary thing to see on the motorway early 00's, was it unmarked plod or just someone with great taste. This one is the exact colour and spec I've always wanted.
Aww, I had a 1995 850 Turbo estate in silver with black leather and all the toys, one of a number of cars I wish I'd never bloody sold. Luxurious, fast and 40mpg if you relaxed, popped it on cruise and pootled along at 60mph. My girlfriend of the time (now my wife) had a new little Peugeot CC thing and a Kia 4x4, so when we moved in together it made sense to sell one of the cars.... I loved that car.
Many years ago I had an early P-reg V70 2.4 petrol. I now own a 2006 and 2013 V70 D5 manual. Seeing this Volvo content has put a big smile on my face. I’m still trying to buy a black P reg V70 T5 owned by a local chap that needs saving. I’ll keep trying.
Brought back so many memories watching this, my dad had several of these as I was growing up, along with v70/s70/s60 t5’s & R’s such a beautiful car & hopefully it’ll be back on the road soon, will defo be following Jon’s page to follow the journey 👌🏽
Loved the dry ice clean. I'd love it on my old MG. One for the new year, the way things are going but just bought some Nielsen products for our newer cars. Now we just need the weather to get out and clean them without being blown into next week LOL.
My dad had a pippi gul (yellow) Volvo T5R, actually at the time there was three of this in our town, two estate and one sedan T5R. Also back than Rickard Rydell was a big hero over here in Sweden! 😃
Thank you for another great video, this is now my favourite as I own a manual 850R estate. She was in the same condition when I found her sitting in a garden by a hedge, she too started on 6yr old petrol first kick😊
I had an 850R sedan for a while, manual, red. Unfortuantely we sold it before people started wanting silly money for them. Totally agree on the seats, by far the most comfortable car I've ever sat in. If it were a wagon I'd've tried harder to keep it (and probably still should have) but life does what it does.
It could even be this car. It was 1995, clear as day. A new M reg yellow T5R turned up at our car meet on Portishead seafront. We had a Sapphire Cosworth, ‘88 RS Turbo, Mk1 Escort with XR4i motor, XR2, Cavalier GSi 2000, various Astras GTEs and even a fast Belmont. A bit of banter with the 40+ owner who had the cheek to roll up next to our fleet of weapons. But no one wanted to race the T5R, it was stunning and very bright.
My dad has a black 850t5 on his drive ,it's his pride and joy with cream leather interior ,my dad's 76 and still won't let me drive it and I'm 59 ,in the last 20 years I think I've driven it once ,it flies I loved it.
I ran a 850 2.5 20v auto wagon for many years, the whole family still miss it, forced to scrap it when the ABS threw a fault a few days before an MOT, with no time to remove the ABS bits to pass yet another test with little work required. Engine was in perfect nick. Had a 3 litre Legacy wagon for a year during the tenure of the 850, but kept the Volvo and returned to it. Super comfortable, perfect for visits to IKEA!! Would have one again if we had room to keep it. Dream combo vehicle? Volvo's 850 2.5 20v engine, auto box, dropped into a Ford Focus estate, original mk1 shape with the Volvo seats!!
The leak of the mineral oil on the Turbo R is nothing to worry about. It's where the over flow pipe dumps the mineral oil when it has been filled up too much. It often happens when the car has sat for a while and the rear dampers have sunken, which pushed out the excess mineral oil through the overflow pipe exactly where it has leaked from.
Absolutely beautiful car, especially in this colour. I have a manual 1997 V70 T5 that me and my son are currently restoring. Bought for just £900. Building the engine back up with forged bottom end, ported head, Japan manifold. Hopefully will be able to drive it next summer.
Brings back great menories of my 850 which someone reversed into last year and wrote off 😥 Despite it being a bog standard 2.5, I absolutely loved that car - it was spotlessly reliable for 28 years old and unbelievably comfy!
Another great episode. I've had several Volvo estates over the years including a 740, 760 an 850r and and a V70 t5 but ultimately what I always wanted was a T5r estate in cream yellow 😊
Always regretted never buying a T5-R or certainly an 850R estate when 20 years ago a good 1 could be found for £3000 or £1500 for something reasonable. It was heartbreaking the abuse James Mays 850R got in the 2nd Top gear Africa special looked fantastic at £1500 at the start it was absolutely knackered by the roads at the end.
Top Gear trashed all the cars that were used in the long distance 'concocted' car treks. A car the broke my heart was a Maserati Merak - absolutely trashed by the end of the TV show.
Proper cult following for these. I've had a couple 850R and the Owners clubs are always super helpful. I agree, the sound is like nothing else. Need to make some mods to make it corner and brake properly but really unbeatable for reliability and smiles per gallon. So cool that you found one Johnny and never any doubt it was going to fire up on first turn !!
My brother had one of these in that exact colour.. soooo underrated and often forgotten about… He blew it up playing with an RB5 Impreza down the M49 wales to bristol motorway 😂😂 great times
I had a T5 and it was lovely. The noise was something to behold. I remember picking it up from the garage, let it warm up, stick some go faster petrol in it and found a long straight road. Put my foot down and as it hit 4,000rpm, the noise took over and everything went blurry. It was amazing. I’d still pick a Saab 9000 Aero or Carlsson over it, but the Volvo was very special.
I also have a Tamiya 1:10 electric R/C 850 touring car complete with front wheel drive ! Which i bought nearly 30 years ago, the detail is really good too !!
What an interesting bloke, the 850R was certainly one of my childhood hero's I remember 2 cool teachers when I was in primary school, the headmaster had a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth and the other was an 850R
Greetings from Denmark I drive a Volvo 850 2.3 T5 stc on a daily basis. with automatic transmission and leather upholstery. I have driven the car for 23 years and it has now covered 438,000 kilometers and still drives completely like a new car, and it is rust-free as it has been undercarriage treated every year with a rust protector. These are super strong cars volvo 850, in a quality that is no longer made unfortunately, I myself have driven the 300,000 of the kilometers the car has driven and it has been an exquisite pleasure as it drives absolutely fantastic and has a good engine sound and good turbo powers.
Really enjoyed that. Doing up quality older cars and giving them an extended life has to be the way forward (car finance industry won’t like it however!). Iain Tyrrell had another example this evening.
Personally, it's a pretty much peak wagon, my father also had a green 850 T5, as a company car. After the obligatory 245 GLT, and a 740 GLT
I vividly remember him querying 'what the hell' the R meant when he got 'blasted' by one on the Motorway, I had to explain what it was 😁😁
My father also had a green 850 T5 company car. Loved it. As soon as i could insure one, i had a V70 T5 manual.
I have an Emerald Green 96 wagon my self. [ T5 obs ;-) ]
Had a ex cop t5 auto estate on a N reg ‘96 and it was unmatched in those days , could eat anything , #volvo4life
@@muckle8 Isn't it poverty spec, or a later full leather?
[ not all cop T5's looked like crap, they had resale value to think about ;-) ]
I had one...
Only a true petrol head especially around in the 90s will know straight away what car it is just from the title. You could've just said 5 cylinder from the 90s and we would've known. An absolute icon which every copper wanted to drive
As soon as I read the title the image of an 850 BTCC car with the cutout of a dog stuck in the back window popped into my head... what a great car!
Or yellow estate wagon would also do it 🙂
Or anyone who SAW THE GODDAMN PICTURE😂😂
The title of world's fastest estate wagon in '94 surely implies an Audi RS2?
Yep, and also a 5 cyl turbo @@TC10193
Jon's a natural on camera, Jonny. Well done on a great video.
Go follow his YT channel Automotive Tales 👍🏽
My dad still uses his green 850 T5R estate every day. About 380.000 km. He bought it brand new and never wants another car. These engines are so good. A true Volvo man, owned a 240, 740 and 960 before this. Mum drives a V50 R estate bought second hand.
Loved hearing how the guy and his dad bonded over them and how it still sticks with him to today. People who aren't true gear heads will never understand how much a car can mean and be to someone. Mine is part of my soul,I truly have a love and appreciation for her. It's a lifetime of love and what u enjoy. Cars it's what I read,watch docs and movies on, spend so much time thinking,dreaming , building, driving. It's a life
As a dad with young boys, I'm hoping I rekindle my car hobby at some point in the not too distant future and get them into it. They're already well interested in cars ... I just don't have the money to buy something fun to completely sucker them in with but I intend to work on it.
As a retired Traffic Cop I can confirm the T5 was a superb car and I went on to drive many of them. Great memories 😊
Seems they were universally loved by coppers - certainly a comfy seat for the long days on the road and some power to chase people that thing they can get away! I had a white ex police T5 at one point... but it got nicked ironically! it was surprisingly good for its mileage though - I think it was well over 300,000 by the time I got hold of it!
Better or worse than a Senator?
There weren't to many cars, back then, which could get away from aT5, apart from a Certain Lotus Carlton, and was Respected in the Car Community.
Were T5 Police Cars Standard? There was the Rumour Mill that they were Tuned?
I had a red saloon, same black interior as this one but mine was a manual, N149 MFR. I'd bought and sold some nice BMWs before and after owning the Volvo and not one of them put a smile on my face as much as the Volvo, the brakes were rubbish and I warped plenty of front discs, the traction control was very rudimentary, the instrument switches were clunky not like the modern micro switches or touchscreen jobbies we have now but there was just something about the car that made all of that irrelevant, alas I sold it for a house deposit, sold it to a friend who kept it nice for a few years and sold it, I never saw it again till maybe 5 years later he turned up at my house in my old Volvo, the chap he sold it to sold it back to him and he came to show me, sadly its gone again, jeez I'd buy that car back in a flash if I knew were it was
I was caught by an unmarked one at 105mph on the M74. They were doing 135mph plus to catch up.
I clicked on this instantly! Im 16 and me and my dad love our 850s, ive got a 10v and hes got a 20v. Love em!
Back in the 90s I was the proud owner of 1 of 200 Olive Green T5-R homologation estates. I had been working in London making my way back to the M4 and I was stuck at traffic lights opposite the Volvo garage in Twickenham. It was in the showroom, I rang the salesman the next day and he drove it out to Chippenham on a Saturday. I bought it after a short test drive. Nxx OAM. I then bought an orange V70R then an orange C70R. #goodolddays
There's 1/200 in the sleepy Welsh town where I live also.
Best colour imo ❤💪🏻
OMG! Just the sort of barn find I was waiting for. I absolutely love these wagons. I own a 95' GLT non turbo with 580K miles. Runs great and everything works. Seats are the most comfortable of any car I've ever owned.
Can confirm that last bit. I've got a '98 V70, and the seats are just perfect. Best $600 I've ever spent.
I did my apprenticeship on these in the 90s, I was 17, the BTCC 850 era was amazing. Tim Harvey made that car dance ❤
So did Jan Lammers in the 850.
I own a C70 Coupé MK1 in Saffron Orange that's also in desperate need of attention and watching this video has properly spurred me on to get the rest of the parts it needs so I can enjoy it again!!!
Love those. Best colour too!
So much love for the T-5R. Had a green manual, sold it and got an 850R manual saloon in red which I still have. Love an 850.
I have a manual cream yellow, i would love a red R as well
This is an iconic car. In Sweden it was called the T-GUL (T-Yellow). It was the dream car for many young guys back in the day.
John needs his own channel if he hasn’t already got one, he is a natural on camera!
You will find his car silliness over here in Automotive Tales =D
@@automotivetales got you! 👍
Drove one as a traffic officer in the 90s; the best work car I ever drove, guaranteed by Volvo to reach 150mph no matter the miles. Fabulous cars, and when I moved to Canada I bought an 850 turbo estate which I passed on to my son (which he then killed through lack of maintenance). Upon my return to the UK next year, may well find myself another old estate.
850 T5R, 944, old land rover? Lovely lineup of cars! I really love these volvos (I daily a '98 V70) so this video was a proper treat. Thanks to all involved!
Edit: and some more nice cars later!
That brings back wonderful memories,in the late nineties I worked for a Volvo dealership and was always captivated by the sound of the five cylinder, and I loved the fact that the police station was opposite, super convenient for them when maintenance etc was needed.
Than you and John for a wonderful video.
That 944 is a beautiful beast too👌
Great episode Jonny, you didn't even get your hands dirty! I've got an Olive Green 850 T5r estate and mines definitely kept in the garage.
I remember seeing that car in Dover quite a bit when I was younger my jaw would drop every time I sore it. I did used to hate the colour but it definitely has won me over after awhile.
do you think it was this exact one - M625TKX? It lived there quite a while I think. The owner worked at the Toyota dealer I think.
@@automotivetales had to of been considering it's rarity and the current owner saying he purchased it in Dover
Smoker's Toothpaste is definitely a John Peel session or a terrible euphemism.
“Later in session Smoker’s toothpaste with their newest track “20 valve head” “
It was a very fine abrasive flavoured powder for smokers my dad uses to use it
@MattTester It's a common dodge to use toothpaste for polishing plastics, and smokers toothpaste is more abrasive than most. The smokers powder is even more so.
John peel classic trucks just to hear his voice again
Those were the days...
Transistor radio listening to John Peel or David Rodigan instead of doing homework.
I used to work in a Volvo Dealership in Glasgow in the 90's and the Police brought their Volvo 850 T5's in for service and repairs. I used to also deliver them to the parts of the UK as well while legally 😉 driving these very very fast machines 🔥
Agree with the sound of the 5 cylinder engines being awesome. I had a 2007 Focus ST (XR5T here in Oz), it was a great car and the sound of that engine was fantastic.
I was rear-ended by a minivan while waiting at a stop light years ago and my '04 V70R gave its life so that I could walk away unscathed. Great car and only 3 years old at the time...an infant! Fast forward 16 years and my son's XC60 did similar duty. Car was destroyed so that he wasn't. Volvo do have their fair share of niggles, but, overall, I'm still a fan. Thanks for this one. Hope he gives the old girl the restoration she's due.
Excellent barn find Jonny. I've got a '98 V70 T5 that I daily. It's flawed in many ways as a daily driver, it drinks fuel, eats suspension components, and has the usual old car niggles. But for me it's the definitive estate car, and it's still buckets of fun.
I currently have a Manual Gull yellow T5R factory manual one of only 3 left in the country, I also own The V70 RAWD and S60 R AWD Manual, my everyday runaround is a V70 T5, they are my babies and all in mint condition. As you say most were Autos, our company was Carpenters Autos Limited in Hampton Court, established in 1934, we started specialising in Volvo in 1981, so I have grown up with the brand, from 121’s right up to the latest XC’s.
Now thats a selection of Swedish Steel right there! The V70R AWD my dad had after the 850 and a few V70 T5s was an absolute monster! My dad let me borrow it a few times and wow it was fun :)
@@automotivetales we bought about 4 cars from carpenters, the last 850 bought brand new, the yellow was in the colours but we thought it looked like a slab of butter, proper work horses
Could i ask how you found out your Gul was one of 3 left in the country?
Great work, Jonny and Tom, in getting Jon's Volvo looking great again. Am sure he's over the moon for your encouragement and assistance in this.
Mrs Jon here. He spends more time with it than me 😅
Love that car, it came up a treat. Needs to be loved and kept in doors. Then a full refurb. 🌏
John could be a new 2nd presenter for LBS - clearly has a love for cars and comes across really well on camera!
yes please! :)
Small world, I also own a T5 and a 944. Great taste in automobiles!
In couple of hours I will be taking my daughter and her friends to soccer practice in this exact car. It was a German allocation then ended up in Japan a finally imported to Canada 5 years ago. I also fell in love with this car because of BTCC. Can't believe I own it. I converted it to manual. Totally different animal.
😎👍🏿🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Are you in Saskatchewan?
These are the kind of stories that make this a great channel!
I had one of these in Dark Olive Pearl. Later style 16t turbo and white injectors retrofitted plus a remap and an 850R clutch plate. That thing was absolutely on fire. Still miss it. Incidentally, I also had a 944 at the same time.
The 850 has been, for over 30 years, one of my favourite estates of all time.
Great video and Jon is a fantastic guy!
Thanks Gentils :) Hope the BMW e12 is running well, see you've been getting some commuting miles in!
@@automotivetalesyes, it's behaving well and using it again this week.
That 850 is amazing!
Really good engine 5 pot . Used in lots of stuff including power boats. Also can be tuned by Yamah to rev .👍. Don't like the car or the colour.
My dream car that I never had the chance to own, but I did have a 240 GLT wagon, a 2004 V70R and a 2011 V70. Thanks for the memories Jonny & Jon
Love the car ethos, wasn't expecting the Clio 172 though! Everyone with a car collection worth knowing about seems to have a quick mk2 Clio of some kind.
That's my car ❤ even if Jon was always keen to grab the keys when she was on the road.
@@rachelbennett368 Great cars, I loved my 182.
Your videos are not just content, they are stories that stay in the heart. Keep inspiring us!🐬😝♂️
304
This one of the best videos you have done, one on the 90’s icons. Really nice guy who owns it. The barn/garage setup is a dream. Thanks Jonny for another great content video.
Such an iconic car for me, so many varied reasons, my Dad brought a T5 saloon back home in 1994 when he was on Traffic, i stood at Silverstone watching, and wanted one! Mates all wanted Golfs and Fiestas etc when we were 17/18, i wanted an 850R, owned ours for over 16 years now, and still gives me goosebumps every-time i drive it or just look at it! We are lucky enough to be showing it this year at at the NEC at at Classic Motorshow on the Volvo Owners Club stand, what a great video as usual.
Top job Jonny and thanks to John for sharing his cars with us.
American here. Love the channel seeing cool cars we never lucky to get. These super cool. Anyone who take a wagon racing I respect. Volvos are cool never had one but always liked them
🇬🇧🇺🇸
We did get these cars in the states. My family currently owns 2 850 wagons.. my daughter's Turbo and my T5R.
@@MrPaynemania that’s a lot of wagons. Where do you put them all? 👀
I like the way the indicators are held in at the front and the early ones give you the engine faults without any obd reader
Great episode! I commented on your 106 Rallye episode that it isn't great getting these barnfinds very wet when they can't drive and they're perfectly dry-stored but in this case you did this car a huge favor with the dry-ice blasting and a proper wash. Very enjoyable watch, thanks!
I used to own standard older Volvo estates to tow my race cars many, far to many years ago, but I always would have loved to own a Yellow In your face T5r auto being disabled. OK I am now 76 but that spark of a fast safe car has never left me. Loved this video even If It has opened the door again saying to myself - I want one. lol. Thank you both.
Hello Jonny & John, what a car! I only hope that the owner now puts this car back onto the road, and uses it!! Best wishes from Lincolnshire
Great episode - thanks for showing us John’s excellent Volvo T5R - glad the car revealed it’s beauty after Ice blasting and a thorough wash 👌
A wealthy friend\business associate of my dad's had a 850 T5R. We borrowed it one winter for a family trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations. We did that trip rather quickly and as it was such a smooth ride, my old dear never quite realised how quick my dad was going. Always loved them after that and their touring car stint. :)
Great video and I've also subscribed to Jon's channel as well. Thank you for the introduction.
Why oh why have car companies given up on estate cars especially as we transition in to EV's, I would love an estate or an MPV again, they are just so much more practical than the current crop of SUV/Cross-over things.
Thanks Jonny for your hard work, this one was so enjoyable to watch and then to watch Jon's behind the scenes video too.
Incredible find, great to see it start up easily and clean up so well.
My first car was an 850, and I've continuously had 850s in my life ever since - until this summer, as I let my 2.0 Turbo manual wagon go to favour focus on my 740 Turbo Intercooler. I know I'm going to miss it though, the atmosphere of the cockpit and the sound of that 5 cylinder is second to none in the world of non-sportscars to my eye. I've kept my wood-rim wheel at least, should the lust and opportunity arise in the future. 😆
And great fun to see you lads froth over these things - being Scandinavian I always felt the FWD-era and onward Volvos always had an underrated, boring rep outside of its home region (to people out of the know, anyway), so it's heartwarming to see and hear the appreciation that's actually out there.
Got driven in a couple of them but never drove myself. Always lusted after one. Coolest estate car ever in my opinion. Thanks Jonathan top work as always.
They always tend to tick for a while after not running for a long time. My daughter has a Turbo 850 estate and I have a black T5r estate in my shop waiting next to its donor car for a new engine. This video gives me some motivation .. can't wait to drive it again. T5rs are rarely seen in the US.
We are thrilled to have acted as motivation. All the very best 🍺
I've been told that the ticking, while often mistaken for tappets, is more often just noisy injectors.
Can't speak to the truth on that, but it's come from Volvo whiteblock experts.
Lovely story with all of the cars.
Now following them automotive tales
Also everytime I see a Volvo my brain thinks "Boxy but good"
How about this?
Boxy *is* good!
fantastic video boys. man i felt like i was just hanging out doing guy stuff., half hour later im sad it ended. keep the volvo going! i love my volvo wagon and will never let it go. 06 ocean race xc70
That Vovlo absolutley deserves to be back on the road.
A true classic. and nice condition too
I hadn't realised who this was until I saw that E30 and the reg. I remember seeing some content on that previously. You have quite the collection there sir. Thank you for sharing the re-awakening on this lovely car. Look after that old girl.
My top car in my daddy list. I sooo want one. Just like the SAAB 900 TURBO.
Thoroughly pleased the owner recognized the error of his ways and made space in the garage for this iconic Volvo. Thanks for highlighting this one, Jonny !!!
Omg! I love the whiteblock, I drove an 04 V70 T5M for 380k kms over 15 years - only sold it because I moving over seas.
Cars like these really bring families together and this Gul T5-R is no exception. A dream car for me, hopefully this will be restored to it's absolute best. It's made my Sunday noght watching this 🙂
I've always been a perv for sporty estates.
I had an Alfa 33 Sportwagons, an Cooper S clubman and have just bought an x-type Sovereign estate.
We used to machine the cranks for the Btcc Volvos where I used to work. We used to get free tickets and my first sight of the Volvo estate was it powering out of the pit lane at Donington.
I had a 155 Alfa at the time.
You should take a trip to see us in Sweden Johnny and dig out a few old Volvos and Saabs. Was recently buying a second hand Saab and noticed that there are loads of Volvos and Saabs that have done 300, 400 and 500k KM and still running fine.
Real special car. John has a nugget of gold. Definitely a keeper.
What a cool car this is. Knew all about them back in the 90’s but never really gave them much attention, but watching this has made me give them the respect they deserve. Really is such a cracking looking wagon 😎
The taping is a hydraulic tap-it when the oil gets there it’s sorted, the walnut steering wheel is not a T5R option, they were leather and suede as standard. To match the seats.
A white 850 estate was always a scary thing to see on the motorway early 00's, was it unmarked plod or just someone with great taste.
This one is the exact colour and spec I've always wanted.
Aww, I had a 1995 850 Turbo estate in silver with black leather and all the toys, one of a number of cars I wish I'd never bloody sold.
Luxurious, fast and 40mpg if you relaxed, popped it on cruise and pootled along at 60mph.
My girlfriend of the time (now my wife) had a new little Peugeot CC thing and a Kia 4x4, so when we moved in together it made sense to sell one of the cars....
I loved that car.
Many years ago I had an early P-reg V70 2.4 petrol. I now own a 2006 and 2013 V70 D5 manual. Seeing this Volvo content has put a big smile on my face. I’m still trying to buy a black P reg V70 T5 owned by a local chap that needs saving. I’ll keep trying.
I like this type of barn find Jonny.
What, an algal driveway? 👀
Brought back so many memories watching this, my dad had several of these as I was growing up, along with v70/s70/s60 t5’s & R’s such a beautiful car & hopefully it’ll be back on the road soon, will defo be following Jon’s page to follow the journey 👌🏽
Loved the dry ice clean. I'd love it on my old MG. One for the new year, the way things are going but just bought some Nielsen products for our newer cars. Now we just need the weather to get out and clean them without being blown into next week LOL.
My dad had a pippi gul (yellow) Volvo T5R, actually at the time there was three of this in our town, two estate and one sedan T5R. Also back than Rickard Rydell was a big hero over here in Sweden! 😃
Thank you for another great video, this is now my favourite as I own a manual 850R estate. She was in the same condition when I found her sitting in a garden by a hedge, she too started on 6yr old petrol first kick😊
Lovely garage good use of space! Fantastic cars I remember going out in my friends and having a shock just how responsive it was.
I had an 850R sedan for a while, manual, red. Unfortuantely we sold it before people started wanting silly money for them. Totally agree on the seats, by far the most comfortable car I've ever sat in. If it were a wagon I'd've tried harder to keep it (and probably still should have) but life does what it does.
The color is Gul which is yellow in Swedish! Thanks for taking care of a legend 🎉
It could even be this car. It was 1995, clear as day.
A new M reg yellow T5R turned up at our car meet on Portishead seafront. We had a Sapphire Cosworth, ‘88 RS Turbo, Mk1 Escort with XR4i motor, XR2, Cavalier GSi 2000, various Astras GTEs and even a fast Belmont.
A bit of banter with the 40+ owner who had the cheek to roll up next to our fleet of weapons. But no one wanted to race the T5R, it was stunning and very bright.
My dad has a black 850t5 on his drive ,it's his pride and joy with cream leather interior ,my dad's 76 and still won't let me drive it and I'm 59 ,in the last 20 years I think I've driven it once ,it flies I loved it.
Just passed you on the M25 I must say the Insight is a thing of beauty. Another great video mate 👍🏼
Ha! Hi there. Thanks for the thumbs up.
What a top bloke, comes over incredibly well, anyone would think he was the presenter 👏👏👏
Jon's wife here, that's so nice !
I ran a 850 2.5 20v auto wagon for many years, the whole family still miss it, forced to scrap it when the ABS threw a fault a few days before an MOT, with no time to remove the ABS bits to pass yet another test with little work required. Engine was in perfect nick.
Had a 3 litre Legacy wagon for a year during the tenure of the 850, but kept the Volvo and returned to it. Super comfortable, perfect for visits to IKEA!!
Would have one again if we had room to keep it.
Dream combo vehicle?
Volvo's 850 2.5 20v engine, auto box, dropped into a Ford Focus estate, original mk1 shape with the Volvo seats!!
The leak of the mineral oil on the Turbo R is nothing to worry about. It's where the over flow pipe dumps the mineral oil when it has been filled up too much. It often happens when the car has sat for a while and the rear dampers have sunken, which pushed out the excess mineral oil through the overflow pipe exactly where it has leaked from.
Just WOW! how that fired up. Had the same with e28 BMW 525e, off the road not as long but 2 years battery diconcted, connected up, fired in seconds.
What a fantastic car 🤩I sorry me and my dad both had the Saab 9-5 Aero Turbo Hirsch wagon back in the day.
My friend’s dad had one of these new, I got to drive it when I was 18, it is still one of the most fantastic cars I remember driving back in 1998!
Absolutely beautiful car, especially in this colour. I have a manual 1997 V70 T5 that me and my son are currently restoring. Bought for just £900. Building the engine back up with forged bottom end, ported head, Japan manifold. Hopefully will be able to drive it next summer.
Johnny, you have sent this episode for 6! One of my all time favourite beasts. Thank you
Brings back great menories of my 850 which someone reversed into last year and wrote off 😥 Despite it being a bog standard 2.5, I absolutely loved that car - it was spotlessly reliable for 28 years old and unbelievably comfy!
Another great episode.
I've had several Volvo estates over the years including a 740, 760 an 850r and and a V70 t5 but ultimately what I always wanted was a T5r estate in cream yellow 😊
Always regretted never buying a T5-R or certainly an 850R estate when 20 years ago a good 1 could be found for £3000 or £1500 for something reasonable. It was heartbreaking the abuse James Mays 850R got in the 2nd Top gear Africa special looked fantastic at £1500 at the start it was absolutely knackered by the roads at the end.
Top Gear trashed all the cars that were used in the long distance 'concocted' car treks. A car the broke my heart was a Maserati Merak - absolutely trashed by the end of the TV show.
My neighbour growing up had a V70r (and a sausage dog) in that burnt orange colour. I forgot just how much presence these cars have.
Proper cult following for these. I've had a couple 850R and the Owners clubs are always super helpful. I agree, the sound is like nothing else. Need to make some mods to make it corner and brake properly but really unbeatable for reliability and smiles per gallon. So cool that you found one Johnny and never any doubt it was going to fire up on first turn !!
My brother had one of these in that exact colour.. soooo underrated and often forgotten about…
He blew it up playing with an RB5 Impreza down the M49 wales to bristol motorway 😂😂 great times
I had a T5 and it was lovely. The noise was something to behold. I remember picking it up from the garage, let it warm up, stick some go faster petrol in it and found a long straight road. Put my foot down and as it hit 4,000rpm, the noise took over and everything went blurry. It was amazing.
I’d still pick a Saab 9000 Aero or Carlsson over it, but the Volvo was very special.
I like this guy, seems like a good dude 👌
LOL. I’m glad you pixelated the taillights in the thumbnail to preserve the suspense about what car it was.
I also have a Tamiya 1:10 electric R/C 850 touring car complete with front wheel drive ! Which i bought nearly 30 years ago, the detail is really good too !!
What an interesting bloke, the 850R was certainly one of my childhood hero's I remember 2 cool teachers when I was in primary school, the headmaster had a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth and the other was an 850R
Greetings from Denmark
I drive a Volvo 850 2.3 T5 stc on a daily basis. with automatic transmission and leather upholstery.
I have driven the car for 23 years and it has now covered 438,000 kilometers and still drives completely like a new car, and it is rust-free as it has been undercarriage treated every year with a rust protector.
These are super strong cars volvo 850, in a quality that is no longer made unfortunately, I myself have driven the 300,000 of the kilometers the car has driven and it has been an exquisite pleasure as it drives absolutely fantastic and has a good engine sound and good turbo powers.
This is music to our ears. Clearly you love your 850. Look after it. 👍🏽
Geoff buys cars will love this ..if you know you know fellow geoffsters
@@beefovbd2 more like scammer
Really great video, and would love to see this getting back to glory. Rare!
Really enjoyed that. Doing up quality older cars and giving them an extended life has to be the way forward (car finance industry won’t like it however!). Iain Tyrrell had another example this evening.